Operations vs Sayyaf stay despite Ramadan - AFP

There is no let up of operations against lawless elements in Basilan province, despite the start of the holy Islam month of Ramadan, a military official said Thursday. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the pursuit operations against the Abu Sayyaf and some Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members in the province is a law enforcement task, aimed at making lawless elements accountable for their crimes. “Tuluy-tuloy ang operation against Abu Sayyaf. Bagama’t Ramadan season na; dahil na rin sa krimen na ginawa nila. Ang ginagawa natin is a law enforcement operation lang (We will continue our pursuit operations against the Abu Sayyaf even during Ramadan. We have to make them accountable for their crimes)," Brawner said in an interview on dzXL radio. He also said the government has identified the MILF members who “helped" the Abu Sayyaf during last week’s firefight that killed 23 soldiers and 23 others. But Brawner admitted that the pursuit operation might be difficult as Abu Sayyaf members have now hidden themselves in civilian communities, and that the military cannot just go after them. Also, he said bombings may not be effective because the Abu Sayyaf members already splintered into small groups. Government troops are tracking down Abu Sayyaf members involved in a fierce fight last Aug. 12, when soldiers overran the groups training camp. Several MILF members came to the Abu Sayyaf’s aid during the fight. But MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said in an earlier interview that the front's members who might have help the Abu Sayyaf were most probably relatives of the bandits. “Pero, yung mga MILF members na sumali sa encounter ay kakasuhan kasama ang mga myembro ng Abu Sayyaf. Natukoy natin sino ang mga pwede natin pangalanan sa ating complaint (In the case of the MILF members who joined the encounter, we have identified them and we will file charges against them, alongside members of the Abu Sayyaf)," Brawner said. Brawner also said the military estimates there are around 300 Abu Sayyaf members in the Basilan-Jolo area. “Itong 300 na ito ito ang core group but these are spread throughout Basilan and Jolo (This is just the core group spread throughout Basilan and Jolo)," he said.